The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-02-24
THE OLDEN DAYS.
Story of an Old Mexican Digging for
Buried Treasure.
Special Telegram to the Statesman.

Special Telegram to the Statesman.
BuRNET, February 81 About three weeks ago
an old Mexican stopped few days in this city;
his business here he said, was for the purpose of
manufacturing tamales. He stayed here few
days and then mysteriousy disappeared, and then
it turns out that he came here from Chihuahua
and was descendant of Juan Gesus De Garroso,
who at one time Is supposed to have lived in this
county and was very wealthy, having silver mine
near Packsaddle mountain, in Llano county, which
yielded large quantities of silver ore. This ore
was carried on brOnches to the City of Mexico
where 1t was minted into money, j uan Gpsus al
ways going along in person TO Mexico with the
pack mules and bringing back the money with him
and paying off his hands He always took along
with him these trips six of his brayest and best
men to protect him from being robbed, and seldom
if ever returned to his home the way he came
On one of these trips, as he was returning home,
with an unusual large amount of money, he was
attacked by highwaymen about ten miles this side
of San Antonio, and himself and the five men that
were with him we're killed. one making his escape
to San Antonio. The robbers secured in all about
$4,000, The authorities at San Antonio being
notified what had occurred, Immediately set out to
find the murdered party, which they did at the
point mentioned They were horribly mutilated
by the highwa' men, one with his eyes punched
out, another with his tongue pulled out and one
with his head and feet cut off, and
Juan Gesus Garroso,was literally hacked to pieces,
they were taken to San Antonio and buried and
the effects of GarrOso were taken hackIto Chihua-
hua, and it appears that this old Mexican, who Is
named alec, Garroso, in looking over some old let
thrs and papers belonging to his uncle who was
murdered, came across q little memorandum min
utely describing the place where he had buried
some s5O0O0 in three earthen jars securely sealed
and bearing his private signet. The description
was 80 thorough and minute, that the Mexican was
that he could find the place and came here for
that purpose. He confded his secret to gentle
man in this county, living about eight miles from
this city, promising to share half with him, should
the treasure be found, provided he would help him
to locate the spot, to which the man readily con-
sented, and one morning last week the two set out
together armed with pick and spade to find the
largo pile of money, that for 80 long laid undis
turbed in the earth. Arriving at certain mountain
they readily found the land marks mentioned, and
after stepping off twenty steps north and thirteen
east from certain point they went to work digging
When they had dug down about four feet they
came to what appeared to be a round excavation
in the rock covered with dirt, and after going
about two feet further down the shovel struck
something hard, which, on being drawn cut,
proved to he one of the identical lars bearing the
seal, d. scribed in the memorandum, underneath
this Jar was one more and exactly likely the first
one, and under the second third sealed with abe
private seal of the dead Garroso their excitement
on finding the Jars knew no bounds, as each one
considered himself "heeed' for the balance of his
life They carried the jars, which we're quite
heavy, to the residence of the gentleman to wnom
the Mexican had impa:ted his information, and
going into room and secretly locking the door,
they began the work of opening the jars, what was
their CONSERVATION on opening them TO find
theywere packed with viii sh substance resemb-
ling ashes, which quickly evaporated when ex-
posed to the light The Mexican, on discovering
that ii was not money became very despondent
and it with difficulty that the gentleman could
restrain him from killing himself; what this sub
stance was and how 1t got into these jars our in
fOrmant was unable to say His Mexican friend
has returned to his home in Mexico, and the story
being 80 strange the party could not keep II aud
showed the jars, and told the story to your re-
porter.